Rescue crews free deer stuck in pond for nearly a day

Rescue personnel retrieve a deer that was stuck on ice for more than 12 hours on a pond in Roxbury, NJ., Sunday, March 19, 2017. A rescue vehicle sank in an attempt to get the deer, but they were all rescued and no one was hurt. (Ed Murray/NJ Advance Media via AP)

ROXBURY, N.J. (AP) — Crews have rescued a deer that was stuck in a frozen pond in New Jersey for nearly a day.

The deer was pulled from the water in Roxbury shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday. But the animal initially struggled to walk on its own and it wasn't immediately known if it had suffered any injuries.

The rescue came shortly after an amphibious land boat that crews were using to get near the deer started taking on water, forcing the rescuers into the pond's cold waters. But officials say none of them were injured.

The deer had gotten stuck about 60 yards off shore on Saturday morning. Crews then worked for most of the day to free the animal, but eventually had to suspend their efforts around dusk.